CHS honors girls’ squads

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Catholic High closed out a successful girls’ sports school year Sunday night with the soccer and softball sports banquet recognizing the accomplishments of the two programs.

Celebrating a state runnerup in Division III soccer and the state championship in Class 3A softball, head soccer coach Chris Hoag and head softball coach Jeri Beck handed out team and individual awards to the players and assistant coaches of the two squads.

“I’ve been coaching some of these girls since they were way back in the fourth grade and what they did this year was amazing,” said Hoag, who also acknowledged the players who earned Academic All-State honors and thanked Beck for her support the past two years as the Lady Panthers played in consecutive state championship games.

Members of the soccer team were awarded crystal plaques listing the team’s state runner-up finish and individual honors the player achieved during the season.

Individual awards handed out were to Lauren DeMahy and Brailyn Jolivette for Most Improved Player; Sydney Lahasky, Defensive Most Valuable Player; Casey Breaux, who set a single season record with 39 goals this year, as Offensive Most Valuable Player; and Angelle Patout, who received the Big Red Award given to the senior who best sets the example of what it means to be a Catholic High student-athlete.

“It’s a very special award to me because it was the award I won at Catholic High,” said Hoag. “I can think of no other player who best exemplifies the spirit of the Big Red Award.”

Hoag also spoke of the help he received from the parents of the players and from assistant coaches Art Mixon and Mark Derouen.

Members of the softball team were awarded smaller replicas of the state championship trophy which also listed their individual achievements this year, copies of the various awards the team received from governmental officials, and championship rings which featured the CHS logo with the words state champions across the top of the ring.

Top individual awards given at the banquet were Outstanding Defense to Abby Henagan; Outstanding Offense to Marie Hoag; Most Improved Player to Kelbi Bienvenu and Madison Guidroz; and the Big Red Award to Henagan.

Beck also thanked the parents and supporters of the Catholic High softball team and also recognized assistant coaches Hoag, Michael Desormeaux, Troy Comeaux and Donald Henagan.

“What we accomplished this year was more than I could have ever dreamed of,” said Beck. “It was the perfect ending to an amazing season. It was an amazing time to be a part of this team.”